Automobile-type lamp



May 2, 1939.

R. w. JOHNSON 2,156,947

AUTOMOBILE TYPE LAMB Filed 001:. 30, 1936 1N VENTOR.

Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES AUTOMOBILE-TYPE LAMP Roy W. Johnson,Wyoming, Ohio, assignor to The International Manufacturing Company,Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 30, 1936,Serial No. 108,440

1 Claim.

The invention set forth herein is particularly applicable to automobilelamps of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,945,-309 which was issued upon an application filed 5 by me. In this type oflamp the closure of the body is effected by the lens only, no separatemounting for the lens being provided, such as is found in the additiondoor rim of other well known lamps. The rimless or so-called doorlesstype of lamp frequently is furnished to the automobile manufacturer inother than the bright metal or plated finishes frequently seen, as forexample in japaned, enameled or lacquered ,finishes of a color to matchthe body, hood, fenders,

and other parts of the Vehicle. Such a doorless lamp, finished in thismanner, becomes prey to scratches about the opening of the body, in theact of placing, removing and replacing the lens, therefore:

An object of my invention is to so construct an automobile type of lamphaving a japan, enamel or lacquer finish, that closure placement andremoval may be accomplished without danger of damage to the finish ofthe lamp, and:

A further object of my invention is to provide such a construction aswill also accomplish the additional function of enhancing the appearanceof the lamp.

These and other objects are attained in the lamp described in thefollowing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a lamp equipped with the detail ofconstruction included in my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the lamp shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view of the lamp and taken as forexample on a line 3-3 as shown in Fig. 2.

The lamp I have chosen as an illustration of embodiment of my invention,consists of the usual elements, primary among which are the body II andlens l2, which specific elements are the only ones immediately effectedby the invention I have made. Having found that automobile manufacturerslamp requirements have swung largely from the style in which an allbright metal lamp was specified, to a demand for lamps of japan, enamelor laquer finish, the result has been that trouble has been experiencedthrough the marring, scratching, scraping or otherwise injuring suchpigment finished bodies because of 55 the handling of the lens in theact of placing it in position or of removing it therefrom, whether suchhandling be careful or careless.

To offset the damage created as above described, I have devised thesimple, effective and inexpensive construction of covering or protectingthe forward edge of the lamp body by encompassing its lens opening witha band I3 of bright metal, whether such band be of plated metal or analloy which will sustain the wear and tear of lamp lens manipulation,without showing the results mentioned when the body is of pigment orplated finish without the protection afforded by a protecting element.This band preferably is made by inclosing the opening edge within theband, the forward edge of which band is inturned as shown at M, whilethe remainder of which lies in contact with the outer face of the bodyto cover a zone thereof a sufficient and appreciable distance from theedge of the body opening to afford the desired protection.

The band preferably is made of a strip of bright metal which is of alength adapted to be just sufficient to permit of springing or snappingthe band in place with its ends lying preferably at the bottom of thelamp body opening, as shown at M in Fig. 2, with its position beingsecured by suitable rivets, eyelets, or the like l5, through each endand body adjacent to the edge of the opening. It is quite obvious thatthe band may be continuous and held in place by crimping or otherwise,all without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention asdescribed herein. Also, it is quite obvious that the use of the idea Ihave described, may be extended to other than the exemplary type of lampshown, and that it is my intention to have it understood that theinvention applies to lamps of any type or style in which a closureelement cooperates with a body opening regardless of the particularmovement or movements which are employed in the act of placement orremoval of the closure element, whether rotation, distortion, or othermetal or closure movement is necessary in the performance of the act ofplacing or removing the closure.

An important feature of my invention is that of the ornamental trimmingof the lamp structure by means of this banding of the lamp body alongthe line of demarcation between body and lens elements, thereby servingthe dual function of relieving the plainness of the all-pigmentfinish,.as well as enhancing the glass of the lens by giving the effectof a bezel about the lens.

Through the unique detail I have described above I have accomplishedduality of purpose by producing a structure in which mechanical andesthetic considerations blend in one simple, effective and veryinexpensive expedient.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

turned inwardly and embracing the edge of the body opening, a lensclosing the body opening,

and a flange extending from the periphery of the lens, of greaterdiameter than the lens and the opening therefor, and adapted to bebrought to engage the inwardly turned portion of the band upon beingpassed through said opening when said body and band are distorted.

- ROY W; JOHNSON.

